Pneumatic ore-separator.



M. S 6: C. F. MACCARTHY.

PNEUMATIC ORE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 050.19. I911 Patented Dec. 3i, 1918.

INVENTORS MS MAC CARTHY AND cation.

MARION S. MAGCARTHY, 0F DENVER; GOIiOR'ADO, "AND CHARLES F. MAcCARTI-IY, OF CARTHAGE, NEW MEXICO, ASSIGNOBS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SAID MARION S. MACCARTHY.

PNEUMATIC ORE-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARIoN S. MAC- OARTHY, and CHARLES F. MACCARTHY, residing, respectively, at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, and at Carthage, in the county I of Socorro and State of New Mexico, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specifi- This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ore separators of the type commonly known as pneumatic jigs.

In separators of this type a separating chamber is divided into two compartments which communicate by ajpassage above a screen which constitutes the bottom of the chamber.

An intermittent supply of air under pressure beneath the screen, imparts a pulsat ing or jigging action to the material supported thereon, with the result that the tailings of material fed into one of the compartments are replaced by mineral particles of greater specific gravity which move gradually to the bottom of the chamber and through the passage above the screen into the other compartment which will hereinafter be referred to as the concentrates compartment.

A continuous ment will thus result in the formation of two columns one of which is composed of concentrates, while the otheris made up of a mixture of valuable mineral particles and tailings beneath a stratum of separated tailings, and mineral particles of lesser specific gravity.

The compartments are provided with discharge-openings relatively positioned so that the two columns when, on a level with the lower edges thereof are. balanced and continuously discharged subject to a continuous and properly regulated feed.

It has been found operation of a separator'of the above description, the discharge from the concentrates column is gradually obstructed by an accumulation of retarded matter which restricts and eventually arrests the pulsating movement of the mineral particles, with the result that ultimately the only discharge from the separating chamber is that of the material in an unseparated condition,

feed into the one compartin practice that in the through the discharge opening of the compartment into which it was fed.

It has also been found that the primary cause of this accumulation of obstructive matter is due to a tendency of large particles of galena concentrate, to remain at the base of the concentrates-discharge opening as a result of their frictional contact with the corresponding side of the separating chamber, and it is the principal object of the present invention to avoid'the deposit of obstructive matter by accelerating the pulsating movement of the concentratescolumn adjacent the side of the compartment at which its discharge takesplace.

We attain this object in the preferred form of our invention, by curving the sup porting screen which usually extends evenly at right angles to the walls of the separating chamber, upwardly toward the discharge side of the concentrates compartment, thereby decreasing the height and consequent weight of the concentrates column at that point and correspondingly accelerating the pulsating movement of the mineral particles contained therein. v

As a natural result of this increased movement of the particles of the concentrates column adjacent the side at which it is discharged, the region adjacentthe dischargeopening of the concentrates-compartment is maintained free from obstructive matter and every particle of the concentrates column is during each pulsation, separatively active as is necessary tomaintain a continuous and eflicient operation of the sep I arator; I j v An added eifect of the curvature of thesupporting surface of the separating chamber upon the'movement of the material adjacent the discharge side of the concentratescompartment is that during the pulsating action the particles of the concentratescolumn instead of moving at right angles to a substantially horizontal supporting surface, are gradually pushed upwardly in an oblique direction toward the discharge side of the compartment across the inclined surface provided by theirpeurved portion of the supporting screen:

It will be understood by those versed in the art, that the use of a partially curved supporting surface, as above described, necessitates the provision of an adjustment l-ated in accordance with the character of the material under treatment.

This object is effectively attained by providing an adjustable device which is adapted to obstruct the passage of air to the curved portion of the supporting screen, to any desired degree.

A simple device of this character consists of a pivoted blade which swings from a point in a side of the air-chamber beneath the supporting screen with its upper edge in adjacency to the curved portion thereof, to provide a battle for the air-currents as well as a pocket which by an accumulation of matter spilled through-the screen during the pulsating action, produces a dam to partially or completely prevent accessof the air to the portion of the screen beneath which it is formed.

An illustrative embodiment of our invention in itspreferred form has been shown in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are designated by similar characters of reference" and in .wh1ch Figure 1 is a vertical section through a pneumatic separator of the character clescribed, to which our invention is applied,

Fig. 2, a section taken along the line 22, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view of the curved portion of the supporting screen and the adjusting device comprised in our invention, together with the adjacent parts of the separator.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference character 2 designates the chamber in which the separation of the ore takes place,.3 the downwardly tapering airchamber which at its lower end connects with a conveniently located source of air under pressure, and 4 the hopper from which the material to be separated is fedinto the separating chamber.

The last-mentioned chamber is supported upon and rigidly secured to the air-chamber and it is divided therefrom by an interposed screen 5, reinforced by ribs 6, which constitutes the bottom of the separating chamber, upon which the material under treatment is supported.

The separating chamber is divided by an upright partition 7 into the tailings compartment 8 and the concentrates compartment 9 which communicate. at their lower ends by the passage 10 which separates the lower end of thepartition from the surface of the screen.

The walls of the chamber 2 at opposite sides of the partition have at their upper ends, openings 12 and 13 for the discharge of the tailings and concentrates from; the respective compartments and the partition 7 has at its upper end a flaring apron. 14 which covers the concentrates-chamber and receives the feed discharged through the outlet of the hopper, for its conveyan e to the tailings compartment.

The portion 15 of thes-reen beneath the concentrates-compartment, curves upwardly from a point substantially below the partition 7 to the wall which has the dischargeopening 13 at its upper end, the said wall being recessed to receive the offset 16 by which the curved portion of the screen is formed.

The adjustable device which regulates the admission of the air to the under side of the curved portion of thescreen, as hereinbeforedescribed, comprisesa baffie-plate 17 which fits between the end walls of the air-chamber and within a recess of the wall of the same which corresponds with the side wall of the concentrates-compartment having the openin 13. I s

The afiie is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis at its lower edge whereby its upper edge may be swungbeneath the curved portion of the screen.

- A hand-wheel 18 at one of the ends of the shaft 19 by whichthe bafile is pivotally supported, facilitates its adjustment, and a pawl 20 and a ratchet 21 provide meansfor holding it in any selected position with respect to the curved portion of the screen.

In the operation of the separator, as here inbefore described, the upwardly curved portion of the screen beneath the concentratescolumn causes the displacement of the mineral particles of which it is composed, to be progressively accelerated from the inner s ide of the concentratescompartment toward the charged therefrom. I e

The upwardly inclined portion of the supporting screen, moreover, impartsa tendency to the active'particles'of the concentratescolumn to move obliquely upwardly toward the discharge opening, and'the accumulation of matter adjacent the opening and conse-' quent obstruction of the concentrates discharge, is thus efiectively prevented.

To regulate the degree of acceleration of the concentrates by reason of the upward curvature of the supporting screen, the baffie 17 is moved to a position beneath the screen, such as that indicated by broken lines in Figs. 1 and 3. 7 It will be seen that the bafiie in this position not only obstructs the air through the portion of the screen above the same, but also forms a pocket which receives a through the screen by the pulsating movement of the material.

Then the pocket is filled, preach and eventually touch the screen and thereby form a dam which shuts off the air flow to the screentoan extent which is regulated' 'by the angular position of the heme beside at which the concentrates are disdirect flow of its contents appart of the fine matter discharged neath the same, it being understood that in the event of the contents of the pocket touching the bottom surface of the screen, the movement of the part of the concentratescolumn above the obstructed portion of the screen, is obtained partially by the seepage of air and partially by its contact with the particles of the part of the column above the unobstructed portion of the same;

It will be readily seen that by varying the height of the curved portion of the screen and by properly adjusting the deflecting baflie we obtain'not only a uniform unimpeded discharge of the particles ofhigh specific gravity present in the feed, but are also able to effect a simultaneous discharge of the mineral particles of lower specific gravity so that all values contained in the mineral fed to the machine are cleanly di vided from the worthless tailings and such material of less specific gravity as it may be desired to discharge with the gangue.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen, and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge-opening of the chamber, inclined to accelerate the movement of material supported thereon.

2. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen, and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge-opening of the chamber, curving upwardly to accelerate the movement of material supported thereon.

3. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge-opening of the chamber, inclined to accelerate the movement of material supported thereon, and means for regulating the air-current beneath said inclined portion of the screen.

4. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge-opening of the chamber, in-

clined to accelerate the movement of material supported thereon, and an adjustable bahie adapted to regulate the air-current )eneath said inclined portion of the screen.

5. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen, and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge-opening of the chamber, inclined to accelerate the movement of material supported thereon, and a pivoted bafiie adapted to regulate the air-current beneath said inclined portion of the screen.

6. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen, and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge opening o1 the chamber, inclined to accelerate the movement of material supported thereon, and a pivoted bafiie adapted to provide a pocket for receiving matter falling through the inclined portion of the screen.

7 In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, a screen-portion adjacent the side of the discharge-opening of the chamber, in clined to accelerate the movement of ma terial supported thereon, and a pocket of adjustable width adapted to receive material falling through the inclined portion of the screen whereby to regulate the air-current beneath the same.

8. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a dischargeopening at a distance above said screen, and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, means adapted to cause an accelerated movement of the portion of material in said chamber, along the side of its discharge opening.

9. In a pneumatic ore-separator including a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen, and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, means adapted to cause the movement of a portion of material in said cham ber adjacent the side of its discharge opening to be gradually accelerated toward said side.

10. In a pneumatic ore-separator includ In testimony whereof We have afiixed our signatures m the presence of two Witnesses.

MARION S. MAOCARTHY. CHARLES F. MAGGARTHY.

lVitnesses for Marion S. MacCarthy:

RALPH M. PARSONS, CARLETON M. DANE.

Witnesses for Charles F. MacCarthy:

DANIEL H. CARGILL BENJAMIN F. HARDEN.

ing a supporting screen, a chamber having a discharge-opening at a distance above said screen and means for causing a jigging movement of material in said chamber by an air-current passing upwardly through the screen, means adapted to cause an accelerated movement of the portion of material in said chamber along the side of its discharge opening, and adjustable means for regulating said acceleration to a selected degree.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 110." 

